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Dispersal Ecology of Greater Sage-Grouse in Northwestern Colorado: Evidence from Demographic and Genetic Methods

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Dispersal Ecology of Greater Sage-Grouse in Northwestern Colorado: Evidence from Demographic and Genetic Methods DISPERSAL ECOLOGY OF GREATER SAGE-GROUSE IN NORTHWESTERN COLORADO: EVIDENCE FROM DEMOGRAPHIC AND GENETIC METHODS A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in Natural Resources In the College of Graduate Studies University of Idaho by Thomas R. Thompson June 2012 Major Professor: Kerry P. Reese iii ABSTRACT The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; here after sage-grouse) has undergone dramatic population declines over the last 25 years as a result of loss, fragmentation, and degradation of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp.) habitats on which it depends. Because of these declines and the subsequent loss of habitat, knowledge concerning the juvenile ecology of sage-grouse, including natal dispersal patterns and abilities and its influences on population persistence, colonization, and connectivity are critical for the conservation planning and management of this species. The focus of this dissertation was two-fold: first, to assess the feasibility of actively collecting and hatching sage-grouse eggs from wild radiomarked sage-grouse and rearing subsequent domestically-hatched (DH) chicks from 1-10 days of age before augmenting wild sage-grouse broods (Chapter 2), and second to investigate natal dispersal in greater sage-grouse through both demographic (radio telemetry) and genetic methods. In Chapter 3, I monitored survival and causes of mortality in wild-hatched chicks (n = 431) in wild broods (n = 115) from hatch to 16 weeks of age in the Axial Basin and Cold Springs Mountain study areas in northwestern Colorado, 2005-2007 and evaluated potentially important predictors of brood and chick survival. In addition, I monitored survival from hatch to 16 weeks of age for a cohort of DH chicks raised to 1-10 days of age in captivity (n = 116) and introduced into a subset of wild broods during this same time period. Model averaged estimates of brood and chick survival indicated that survival varied both temporally and spatially. In Chapter 4, I captured, radiomarked, and monitored survival and recruitment of 183 transmitter-equipped juveniles (from Chapter 3) from 1 September – 31 March. Survival from September through March was similar iv for all juveniles, but varied by month, study area, and gender. Median dispersal distance was greater for juvenile males compared to females (M: 3.84 + 1.26 km; F: 2.68 + 0.30 km), as well as the proportion dispersing > 5 km (M: 31.6%; F: 15.5%). In Chapter 5, I examined the patterns of dispersal, gene flow, and genetic structure at 15 leks in 6 population management zones (PMZs). Genetic analyses were largely congruent and suggested that gene flow followed an isolation-by-distance pattern, and supported male- biased dispersal findings based on demographic data (Chapter 4). Finally, in Chapter 6, I investigated how coarse-grained landscape characteristics influenced dispersal and settlement patterns. Landscape metrics primarily differed between study areas rather than genders, and among pre-dispersal, winter, and post-dispersal landscapes. Effect of extent upon analyses depended upon the specific metric and landscape. v DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my parents, Bob and Judy Thompson, for their unconditional love and understanding as I have pursued my dreams and directions that have often taken me further afield from the farm and home of my childhood. Thank you for all your support and understanding over the years during both triumphs and failures, without which I would have never of made it this far. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to acknowledge and thank the funding sources that supported this research, namely the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the University of Idaho. In addition, genetic work was supported by a grant awarded from the Center for Research on Invasive Species and Small Populations (CRISSP) at the University of Idaho. I would like to thank my major advisor, Dr. Kerry Reese, and committee member and Colorado collaborator, Dr. Tony Apa, for all their support, advice, assistance, and lastly patience in helping me to get to this point. I definitely feel privileged in belonging to both the Idaho and Colorado ―branches‖ of sage-grouse research, and have learned and benefited greatly as a researcher, biologist, and ―grouser‖ from their expertise, guidance, and example. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Lisette Waits and Dr. Lee Vierling as well for their support, advice, assistance and patience as part of my committee. I especially want to thank Dr. Waits and the Wait‘s lab group for their patience, support, and advice in helping me to learn the genetic lab methods, protocols, and analyses that have added greatly to this work. I cannot imagine having done this anywhere else. Additionally, I would like to thank and acknowledge logistic and technical support and advice from the following agencies, organizations, and individuals: Colorado Division of Wildlife (Larry Gepfert, Brad Petch, local DWMs: Michael Blanc, Trevor Balzar, Jon Wangnild, Adrian Archuleta), Rio Tinto/ Kennecott Energy (Colowyo Coal Company) (Juan Garcia and Tonia Folks), and the Bureau of Land Management (Little Snake River District. In particular I would like to thank and acknowledge the following landowners for their continued support and interest during this project: the Vermillion vii Ranch (the Dickinson Family), John Raftopoulos, Simpson Ranch, the Moore Family, Ken Bekkedahl, the Cook Family, Seely Land and Livestock Company, Dennis Griffin, Alan Mead, Cross Mountain Ranch, Deakins Ranch, Nick and Ann Charchalis, Visintainer Sheep Company (Dean Visintainer), Brannan Brothers, Leonne Earl, Kourlis Ranch, and the Moffat County Grazing Board and State Land Board. I sincerely thank the outstanding technicians and field crews for all their hard work and dedication over the years including: Amiee Coy (Wiese), Erin High, Natasha Gruber, Amy Vande Vort, Lisa and Dean Brittian, Eric Wengert, Adam Gmyrek, Julie Stiver, Scott Florin, Nathan Dryer, Lief Wiechman, Mackenzie Shardlow, Nick Gould, Matt Christinson, Bryan Voelker, Jenny Sinclair, Kristy Howe, Brandon Miller, Kent Rider, Kathleen Tadvick, Chris Yarbourgh, O. Bartlett, O. Duvuvuei, and S. Vincent. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the professors and staff within the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Idaho. I feel very strongly about the high quality of the education that I have received during my time there and have benefitted greatly from their efforts. Along with this I am indebted to the many colleagues involved with Kerry Reese‘s and Lisette Waits‘ lab groups both past and present. They have been a source of both professional and personal support through this endeavor and I feel lucky to have benefitted from your collaboration and friendship over the years. Finally, I would like to acknowledge my family for all their support, patience, love, and understanding. This would not have been possible without you. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT DSSERTATION…….…….…………...………….. ii ABSTRACT.……………………………………………..………………………..……. iii DEDICATION.………………………………………………...…………..……....……. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...………………………………..………………….…..…… vi TABLE OF CONTENTS…………..…………………………..…………………….…viii LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………..…. xi LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………… xvii LIST OF APPENDICIES………………………………………………………………xxii CHAPTER 1 – Introduction: To disperse or not to disperse? Consequences of movement at the individual and population level in the greater sage-grouse…..….. ….. 1 LITERATURE CITED…………….………………………………………. ….. 11 CHAPTER 2 – Captive-rearing sage-grouse for augmentation of surrogate wild broods: evidence for success………………..………...……………………………….. 28 ABSTRACT……………………………………………………….…................ 28 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………................................ 30 STUDY AREA……….………..………………………..……...………….…….32 METHODS...………………...………………………………..…………………34 RESULTS..……………………………………………….……………….……. 40 DISCUSSION.…………………………………………….…….…….……….. 49 MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS...……………………………..…………... 62 LITERATURE CITED………………………………….……….…………..…. 64 ix CHAPTER 3 – Survival of greater sage-grouse broods and chicks from hatch to brood independence in northwestern Colorado….…………….…………………...........92 ABSTRACT.……………………………………………………...……...............92 INTRODUCTION….……………………………………………………… ……94 STUDY AREA…….…………………….………………………………………97 METHODS………………………………………………………………………99 RESULTS…………..………………….……………………………………….107 DISCUSSION……….………………………………………………………… 117 MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS…………...…….………………………...135 LITERATURE CITED….….………………….……………………………….138 CHAPTER 4 – Juvenile survival, recruitment, and natal dispersal of greater sage- grouse in northwestern Colorado……………………..………………………………...168 ABSTRACT……..……………………………………….……………………..168 INTRODUCTION ….………………………………….………………………170 STUDY AREA…….……………………………………...………………….. 175 METHODS…………...………………………….……………………………..177 RESULTS……………...……………….………………………………………186 DISCUSSION…………..…….……………………………………………….. 196 MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS………...…………………………………215 LITERATURE CITED……………….………………………….……………..217 CHAPTER 5 – Dispersal, gene flow, and population genetic structure in the greater sage-grouse: implications for connectivity and natural recolonization…………..…… 255 x ABSTRACT…….……………………………………………………………....255 INTRODUCTION…….………….…………………………………………….257 STUDY AREA…………………………………………………………………261 METHODS..………………………………………………………..…………..262 RESULTS…………..………………….……………………………………….269
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